Biggest Changes in Czech Immigration Law

On August 15, the new rules for foreigners entered in force with the presidential signature. Photo: Pixabay

Czech Republic, August 23 (BD) – The new Amendment to the Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals changes the rules of games for people wishing to settle in the Czech Republic.

The legal changes apply to holders and applicants of long-term visas, business visas, and holders and applicants of long-term residence permits in the Czech Republic.

The changes in law do not work retroactively. It means that if you had your documents issued before August 15, they are valid and you don’t need to take any steps.

Targeting third country nationals

Some say, changes target non-EU nationals as a reaction to current anti-immigration political temper in society. When reviewing recent changes, important change regarding third country nationals concerns the nonacceptance of permit application from a foreigner who is a family member of a Czech citizen but stays in the Czech Republic without authorization or with a valid exit order.

The newly implemented administrative fees for reception of the application for third country nationals pose another obstacle.

Changing or losing a job can be a complication

Tomáš Jungwirth, Policy Officer at the Consortium of Migrants Assisting Organizations in the Czech Republic, explains for Expats.cz what is a confirmation of a change of employer: ”It is when a person loses their job or plans to change the employer that it becomes restrictive. Unfortunately, to change a job requires confirmation that the given person is actually going to their present employer; saying you intend to leave and asking for confirmation of employment can obviously be problematic.”

This document has to be prepared and submitted within 60 days.

An applicant for renewal of an employee card has an opportunity to find a new employment within 60 days of the termination of his or her employment, for which the employee card was issued to him or her, and to apply for an approval of the change of his or her employer no later than within this time limit.

“It is not possible to issue or renew an employee card of a foreign national who holds the position of a partner (including a member of a cooperative), the position of a member of a statutory body or another body of a commercial company,” the new Amendment states.

Intra-company transferred employees and investors

New types of long-term residence permits have been introduced.

The Ministry has introduced a new card of an intra-company transferred employee.

Newly, there is card of an intra-company transferred employee from another member state of the European Union for foreign nationals who have already been transferred within a company to an EU state and wish to be transferred from that state to the Czech Republic now.

Other card is issued for foreign nationals who are transferred within a company from a state, which is not an EU member state, to the Czech Republic.

Among many other changes the new immigration legislation have introduced the possibility to obtain a long-term residence permit for investors; whereby the term investor (the “Investor”) also includes shareholders or directors of a company, Prague.TV, daily for foreigners in Prague reported on July 23, 2017.

There are several conditions, which need to be fulfilled in order to obtain the Investment visa such as creating “at least 20 full-time jobs for EU-citizens”. Learn more here.

Seasonal employment

A new purpose of a long-term visa has been introduced, specifically a long-term visa for the purpose of seasonal employment has been added. The Ministry has not provided more details on this visa purpose yet.

New fees and fee stamps

For applications filed by third country nationals in the territory of the Czech Republic, administrative fees for reception of the application have been introduced. “It means, foreign nationals are required to pay the fee when they fill in the application and after they receive the card,” Move to Prague experts explain on their website.

Since August 15, authorities collect administrative fees exclusively in form of fee stamps (no cash or credit card) from third country nationals. Issue or renewal of a residence permit costs circa 700-1500 CZK, lower amount is charged to a person under 15 years old.

Application for issue of an employee card costs 1,500 CZK now and an employee card issue is for 1,000 CZK.

Personal approach

A personal appointment at the embassy is required in order to submit application for a long-term visa, a long-term residence permit or a permanent residence permit.

Temporary residence permit has to be personally filled in in an office of the Ministry of the Interior.

Young adults to undergo an individual process

If parenting an adult dependent child, August 15, there was a considerable change. Your adult studying child cannot apply for a permanent residence permit only for the reason of a partnership with you – a foreigner with permitted permanent residence – now. Such a permit is eligible only for minors.

Move to Prague gives an advice in this scenario: “They (adult dependent children) will be able to apply for a long-term residency, and apply for a permanent one after years-long stay here. It is not a change that is ‘life-threating’ – it actually puts all the people into the same position and asks to wait for it.”

Expiration dates

You should be also aware of expiration dates of your papers. As for a long-term visa, you have to apply for a re-validation at least 90 days before expiration.

In case of long-term residence permit, dates are not so tight. Last day of validity is the latest day to apply for a renewal. 120 days ahead is the earliest time to apply for a renewed permit. “An application for renewal of all long-term residence permits (including employee cards) is to be filed more than 120 days before the expiry date of the existing permit,” the official document of Ministry of Interior states.

Who is the most affected by the new Czech visa system change

Tomáš Jungwirth sums up that “there is no change for the sake of relocation”. Tourist- and work visa or work permit are actually no intricacy in the Amendment. However, “those transferring employment, their family members, and people who intend to start a business will be the most affected,” Jungwirth concludes.

A specialist from Move to Prague, Daria Somova has an encouraging and calm response to the change: “I am sure that in the beginning it is going to be very confusing both for people and the government workers, but later it is going to be alright and in order.”

Jobspin International s.r.o. / Brno Daily does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information, since it utilizes information from an officially published document of the Ministry of the Interior of Czech Republic: List of Changes Made by the Amendment to the Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals with effectiveness from August 15th , 2017 (by Act No. 222/2017 Coll., amending Act No. 326/1999 Coll., on the Residence of Foreign Nationals in the Territory of the Czech Republic and on Amendments to Some Acts, as amended, and other related Acts) available here. Despite our efforts, it may not be accurate, up to date or applicable to the circumstances of any particular case. We cannot accept any liability for any inaccuracies in this article and any decisions you make based on information contained in this website are your sole responsibility.

https://brnodaily.cz/2017/08/23/breaking-news/biggest-changes-in-czech-immigration-law/https://brnodaily.cz/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/pexels-photo-323503-e1503481722269.jpeghttps://brnodaily.cz/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/pexels-photo-323503-150x100.jpeg2017-08-23T09:53:26+00:00Zuzana PápayováBusinessNewsPoliticsRelocation to BrnoBreaking News,Brno,Business,Czech Republic,Education,Employment,EU,Expat Woman,Expats Czechia,Politics,Relocation to BrnoOn August 15, the new rules for foreigners entered in force with the presidential signature. Photo: Pixabay
Czech Republic, August 23 (BD) - The new Amendment to the Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals changes the rules of games for people wishing to settle in the Czech Republic.
The legal...Zuzana PápayováZuzanaPápayovázuzanazetqapapayova@gmail.comEditorSlovak expat in Brno; a philosopher by night and rebel by fate who is too eager to understand it all, yet too understanding to loot the mysterious magic of the world.Brno Daily